Hopper discharge outlet



June 14, 1966 s. B. DOREY HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET 3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed May 28, 1964 3. Q 3% 2 mw mm mm INVENTOR GEORGE E DOREY June 14, 1966 Filed May 28, 1964 G. B. DOREY HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ditty.

G. B. DOREY HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET June 14, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 28, 1964 INVENTOR GEORGE B. DOREY United States Patent 3,255,553 HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET George B. Dorey, Westmount, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Enterprise Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 28, 1964, Ser. No. 370,835

6 Claims. (Cl. 49-363) 7 The invention relates to an improved hopper closure operating mechanism and is by way of an improvement on the structure shown in my United States Patent No. 3,082,- 701, dated March 26, 1963.

The improved closure operating mechanism is particularly adapted for use in connection with the discharge' openings of railway hopper cars and the like for transporting bulk lading.

The present invention in common with the structure of my above-identified patent is predicated on the employment of mutliple winding linkage mechanisms operable to transmit force in either direction of rotation. In this type of outlet or discharge opening arrangement there are two such winding linkage mechanisms for each closure, which mechanisms are arranged in transversely aligned relation. In order to ensure uniform or simultaneous operating movement of the two linkage mechanisms it has been the practice to interconnect the terminal links of the spaced mechanisms. Such a connection, as will be understood, obviates the possibility of the terminal links swiveling in opposite directions as the closure approaches closed position.

It is now one of the objects of the present invention to provide a structure assuring uniform unidirectional swiveling movement between the respective terminal links without the necessity of interconnecting said transversely spaced links. To this end the instant improvement contemplates an arrangement of parts so proportioned and related to each other as to unidirectionally bias the multiple linkage into a straightened and over center toggle-locked relation whereby said straightened linkage will be operable as a single strut member.

Other objects of the invention are: to provide an improved winding linkage mechanism which will be operable in both tension and compression through substantially a 1 full revolution of rotary movement; to provide a folding multiple linkage mechanism of the jackknife folding type wherein one of the multiple links operates as a detent for restraining opening movement of the jackknife fold until a predetermined extent of unwinding direction is attained; to provide a keeper lug which is engageable with one of the links of a winding linkage system to maintain other linkages against unwinding; to provide a mechanism having a substantial 0r multiplied mechanical efliciency at an intermediate stage of the closure movement in order to permit reclosing of the closure against the load after partial unloading of the hopper; and in general to provide a winding linkage mechanism wherein the length of the links and arms and their relation to other parts are proportioned to meet variations in operating force required at different stages in the movement of the closure.

The invention further resides in certain details of construction and refinement of parts such as will be more fully pointed out and claimed.

For further comprehension of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the lower portion of a railway car hopper with an outlet assembly incorporating the improved mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 with the hopper walls eliminated to better illustrate the parts of the outlet assembly;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from right to left;

Patented June 14, 1966 FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a fractional vertical longitudinal section taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing the winding mechanism in fully folded position and the closure in open position; and

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are fractional vertical longitudinal sections similar to FIG. 5 except the mechanism is shown in sequential positions during rotation thereof in an unwinding direction toward the full closure position of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the hopper proper is indicated by sloping side walls 10-10 meeting with sloping end walls 11 and 12 to form a four-sided hopper having a discharge opening 13.

The lower portion of the hopper is bordered by a frame structure 14 which includes sloping side walls 15-15 and sloping end walls 16 and 17 forming a four-sided enclosure disposed to overlie the lower edges of the hopper walls 10-10, 11 and 12. As best shown in FIG. 4, the sloping walls 15 are formed by deflecting the upper portion of longitudinally extending side members 18-18 which include a vertically disposed web portion 19 and an outstanding lower marginal flange 20.

Each member 18 extends lengthwise beyond the hopper opening to present an overhanging portion or extension 21, which extensions are provided at the distal ends thereof withaligned bearing hubs 22 for a purpose which will be described. The opposite ends of the longitudinally extending members 18 are rigidly interconnected adjacent one end of the opening 13 by a downwardly extending sloping wall extension 23 of the transverse sloping end wall 16 with members 18 also being rigidly interconnected intermediate their ends and adjacent the opposite end of the opening 13 by a transverse sloping wall 24 having a horizontally disposed upper marginal flange reinforcement 25. The lower margin of the wall extension 23 is reinforced by an outwardly directed flange 26. The lower portion of the Wall 24 has an angle-shaped member 27 secured to its outer surface,-which member 27 is characterized by an inwardly directed flange 28 which is spaced beneath the lower marginal edge of said wall 24 whereby to provide a recess 29 for receiving the flange of an'extension chute (not shown).

The discharge opening 13 is adapted to be closed by a gate or closure 30 which is slidingly mounted for movement along longitudinally extending rail members 31-31 which are supported on the inner sides of the side members 18-18. In its closed position, the leading edge of the closure 30 rests on a transversely extending rail member 31a which is disposed adjacent the lower portion of the sloping wall extension 23.

The rail members 31-31 extend beyond the openin 13 in juxtaposed relation to the extension 21 of the side members 1 8 to support the closure 30 in its open position. As illustrated, the rail members 31-31 are downwardly inclined in a direction such that the force of gravity Would tend to pull the closure 30 toward its closed position.

A lower marginal edge 32 of the sloping end wall 17 I is spaced above the upper flange reinforcement 25 of the wall 24 to provide a slot or opening 33 through which the closure 30 extends. The trailing edge of the closure 30 is formed with an upwardly and outwardly extending reinforcing and sealing flange 34 which has a pair of transversely spaced lugs or brackets 35 secured thereto. A laterally disposed pivot pin 36 is provided in each bracket 35 for connecting the closure 30 to a pair of winding linkage mechanisms which are indicated generally by the reference number 37 and which will be described in detail hereinafter. i

The closure 30 adjacent its trailing edge is provided along each side edge wit-h an angle-shaped bracket 38 which is characterized by a shank portion 39 secured to the flange 34 and by a laterally outwardly extending projection 48 which extends beneath the adjacent rail member 31 and serves to limit upward bouncing of the closure 30 when in its open position and during opening and closing movement thereof. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, sloping side walls 41, which extend inwardly and downwardly at an angle from the inner face of the side wall members 18, overlie the side edges of the closure 30 when same is in its closed position, whereby to prevent upward bouncing thereof.

The mechanism for moving the closure 38 longitudinally either in an opening or closing direction and retaining it in its closed position includes an operating shaft 42 which is square in cross section and which is journaled in the bearing hubs 22 in a manner to be described. Connection between the shaft 42 and the closure 30 is by means of the winding linkage mechanisms 37 of which there are two per closure. As the two sets of winding mechanisms 37 are substantially identical in structure, the description herein will be confined to only one of such mechanisms. In brief, winding linkage mechanism 37 is characterized by an apertured hub member 43, by a main link element 44 and by a terminal link member 45. The hub member 43 has a complementary square bore extending therethrough for nonrotatably mounting same on the shaft 42. The pair of hub members 43 are maintained against outward axial displacement by the bearing hubs 22 and against inward displacement by a tubular spacer 46 which is provided on the shaft 42 between the hub members 43 and which may be rigidly connected thereto, for instance, by welding as at 47.

Extending radially from one side of the hub member 43 are link or arm means 48, preferably in the form of a pair of axially spaced, radially aligned arms or links 4?49. Extending radially in a generally diametrically opposite direction from the arm means 48 is a generally hook-shaped shoulder member or radial lug 59 which is characterized by an a-rcuate-shaped wall 51 reinforced on its concave surface by a centrally disposed arcuate rib 52.

One end of the main link element 44 is pivotally connected between the outer ends of the arms 4949 of the arm means 48 by a pivot pin 53. The opposite end of the link element 44 is bifurcated as at 54 whereby to define a pair of spaced jaws or arms 55-55. The bifurcated or forked end 54 of the link element 44 is pivotally connected between the outer ends of two laterally spaced arm members 6262 which define the terminal link 45 by means of a pivot pin 56. The opposite ends of the arm members 6262 are mounted on the projecting ends of the pivot pin 36 whereby to pivotally connect the terminal link 45 to the bracket 35 mounted on the trailing edge of the closure 30. The terminal link member 45 is further characterized by a right-angular separator member 63 which is secured transversely between the arm members 6262 thereof and intermediate its pivotally mounted ends. The separator member 63 includes a portion 65 which is disposed normally to a plane extending through. the axes of rotation 59 and 74 of the pivot pins 56 and 36, respectively, and a portion 64 which extends parallel to the aforesaid plane and has its inner surface aligned with the uppermost edges of the arm members 6262. The portion 65 is spaced a predetermined distance from the pivot pin 56 for a purpose which will be evident hereinafter and the portion 64 has a transverse marginal edge surface 66 which is adapted for abutting engagement with a transverse surface 67 of the bracket 35, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, to limit upward pivoting movement of the terminal link member 45 about the pivot pin 36 beyond a position in which the aforesaid plane between the axes of rotation 59 and 74 is generally parallel to the closure 30.

The link element 44 is provided intermediate its ends with a slight bend in a vertical plane as best illustrated at 57 in FIGS. 1 and 8 whereby to characterize the link member 44 as being generally angular or saddle-shaped so that same is adapted to straddle the hub member 43 and pivot thereabout to present a folded jackknife assembly when the mechanism 37 is fully folded and the closure 30 is fully opened, as shown in FIG. 5. The length of the link element 44 is greater than the length of the radial arm means 48 but less than twice the length thereof with the bend indicated at 57 being disposed nearer to the axis 59 of the pivot pin 56 at the bifurcated end 54 of the link element 44 than to the axis 58 of the pivot pin 53 at the other end of the link element 44. The structural arrangement is such that when the link element is in straddling engagement with the hub member 43, the axes 58 and 59 are in alignment with the axis 60 of the shaft 42, as indicated by line xx in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. When the element 44 is in straddling engagement with the hub member 43, it is noted that the shorter end portion thereof defines and serves as a radial arm on the hub member 43 which, for a purpose which will be evident hereinafter, is both shorter than the fixed arm means 48 and is disposed generally diametrically opposite therefrom.

As will be observed by reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 the closure 30 is retained in its fully closed position by the linkage mechanisms 37 being extended and knuckled into overcenter toggle-locked positions wherein the pivot axes 58 and 59 of the main link element 44 are moved past a line yy drawn between the pivot axis 74 at the closure end of the terminal link member and the axis of rotation 60 of the shaft 42. This overcenter toggle-looked position is determined by pairs of lugs 68 and 69 which extend laterally from the upper edges of the main link element 44 at opposite ends thereof for engagement with the upper surfaces of the terminal link 45 and the arm means 48, respectively.

Rotation of the shaft 42 is effected from either side of the frame structure 14 by means of operating handles 70 which are mounted on the ends of the shaft and ret ained in place by rivets 71. The handles 70 include circularly-shaped hub portions 72 (FIG. 3) which extend into the bearing hubs 22 for supporting the shaft 42 therein and a series of openings 73 which are provided for the accommodation of a removable operating bar (not shown).

The advantages and features of novelty may be best understood by considering the position and relation of the elements of the linkage mechanism 37 during one opening and closing cycle of the closure 30.

The opening movement of the closure 30 is a simple chainlike winding operation involving one complete revolution of the shaft 42 in a clockwise direction as viewed in sequence in FIGS. 1, 8, 7, 6 and 5. In the course of the opening movement of the closure 30, the pivot pin axes 58 and 59 of the saddle-shaped link element 44 come into alignment with the axis 60 of the shaft 42 and with the axis 74 of the pivot pin 36 along the line xx as seen in FIG. 7. As the foregoing pivot axes come into alignment along the line xx, the arcuate surface 51 of the hook-shaped shoulder member swings into tangential relation with the portion 65 of the terminal link separator member 63 and the interlocking of the jackknife relation is initiated with the arcuate rib 52 being disposed concentrically about the pivot pin 56. This interlocking of the linkage mechanism 37 wherein the link element 44 is wrapped around the hub member 43 with its .pivot axes 58 and 59 in alignment with the axis of the shaft 42 is maintained during the remainder of the closure 30 opening operation through approximately 180 rotation of the shaft 42 and until the linkage mechanism assumes the full open position shown in FIG. 5.

The closing operation of the closure 30 is a reversal of the opening movement heretofore described. During approximately the first half revolution of the unwinding movement of the linkage mechanism 37 from the position shown in FIG. 5, the flat portion of the terminal link separator member 63 remains in tangential engage- 'ber 50 and thereby locks the mechanism 37 in its jackknife relationship with the short end portion of the link element 44 which is pivotally connected to the terminal link 45 operating or serving as a fixed radially extending arm of the shaft 42. During this rotation of the shaft 42, the terminal link 45 swings upwardly about its pivotal connection to the closure 30 at 74 until same is arrested in its upward swinging movement by engagement of the edge surface 66 of the separator member 63 with the bracket surface 67. At this point in the unwinding of the mechanism 37, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the link member 45 extends in the general direction of the closing movement of the closure 30 and the thrust exerted thereon and the arm means 48 is disposed substantially normal thereto. Upon continued rotation of the shaft 42, the terminal link 45 and the link element 44, while still disposed in jackknife relationship to the arm means 48, straighten out with all of their pivot axes being disposed in longitudinal alignment as shown in FIG. 7. Upon still further continued rotation of the shaft 42, the engagement between the arcuate surface 51 of the member 50 and the portion 65 of the member 63 ceases and the terminal link 45 and the main link element 44 then ordinarily operate as a single link overcenter toggle locked connection between the closure 30 and the arm means48. Wzhen lt'hC linkage mechanism 37 unwinds to the position shown in FIG. 8 wherein the terminal link 45 serves somewhat as an extension of the closure 30 inasmuch as further upward pivoting movement of the terminal link 45 is prevented, it will be seen that the extended length of the arm means 48 becomes effective not only in directing. closing pressure on the closure 30 :but also in biasing the linkage mechanism 37 into a straightened or extended condition.

The disposition of the various pivot axes'of the linkage mechanism 37 in alignment with the axis of rotation 60 of the shaft 42 as shown in FIG. 7 is of importance in providing multiplied mechanical efiiciency at an intermediate stage in the unwinding or closing movement. It is frequently necessary to partially open the closure 30 and reclose same after releasing a portion of the lading in the hopper and for this purpose the hereindescribed toggle acting winding mechanism provides the necessary power for quickly and efiiciently shutting off the flow of lading. The various pivotal connections employed in the linkage mechanism -37 consist of headless pins, such as the pivot pins 53 and 56, which are held in place by welded connections at each end, as indicated at 77 in FIG. 2.

It will be understood that certain changes may be made in the construction or arrangement of the hopper closure operating mechanism disclosed herein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a hopper having an opening for the discharge of lading and a closure slidingly mounted for controlling discharge of lading, means for moving the closure comprising:

(a) a rotatable shaft,

( b) radially extending arm means on said shaft,

(0) a radial lug on said shaft circumferentially spaced from said arm means,

(d) a two-part winding linkage connected between said closure and said shaft, said linkage being characterized by: v

(l) a first link pivotally connected to said arm means and pivotable into juxtaposition to said lug; and by (2) a second link pivotally connected between said first link and said closure, said second link being engageable with said lug in a manner such that said first link is retained in juxtaposition to said lug for a predetermined portion of the unwinding movement of said linkage. 2. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said lug has a hook-like configuration for engagement with the pivot connection between'said first and second links.

3. In a hopper having an opening for the discharge of lading and a closure slidingly mounted for controlling discharge of lading, means for moving the closure comprising:

(a) a rotatable shaft;

(b) a hub nonrotatably mounted on said shaft;

(c) arm means extending radially from said hub;

(d) a main link element 'of greater length than said arm means pivotally connected at one end to said arm means and pivotable to a position wherein same engages and extends transversely across said hub, whereby to define an overhanging arm which is circnmferentially spaced from said arm means;

(e) a terminal link pivotally connected by pivot pins between said overhanging arm and said closure;

(f) a lug mounted on said hub in juxtaposition to said overhanging arm when said main link element is pivoted into engagement with said hub;

(g) an arcuate surface of said lug being concentrically disposable about the pivot pin connecting said ter- "minal link and said overhanging arm;

(h) and a member on said terminal link engageable with said .arcuate surface to maintain said relationship during a substantial portion of the operation of said closure moving means.

4. In a hopper having an opening for the discharge of lading and a sliding closure for the opening, means for moving the closure comprising:

(a) a rotatable shaft;

(b) arm means extending radially from one side of said shaft;

(c) a winding linkage mechanism operably connected between said closure and said arm means;

((1) said linkage mechanism being characterized by a main link element which is pivotally connected at one end to said arm means and which is of suflicient length to be pivoted across the shaft to provide an overhanging portion which defines a radial arm circumferentially spaced from said arm means;

(e) said linkage mechanism being further characterized by a terminal link which is pivotally connected at one end to said closure and at the opposite end to the opposite end of said main link element;

(f) said main link element being bent intermediate its ends in a manner such that when same extends across said shaft, said pivot axes at the opposite ends thereof are in alignment with the axis of rotation of said shaft and on opposite sides thereof;

(g) a radially extending lug on said shaft adapted for interlocking engagement with said terminal link during winding movement of said mechanism to open said closure;

(h) and means on said terminal link for retaining said lug in interlocking engagement with same for a predetermined substantial portion of unwinding movement of said mechanism.

5. 'In a hopper having an opening for discharge of lading and a sliding closure for the opening, means for moving the gate comprising:

(a) a rotatable shaft, and

(b) a winding linkage mechanism operably connected between said a closure and said shaft in a manner such that said shaft is rotatable through a single revolution in moving said closure in either closing or opening directions, said linkage mechanism comprising:

(1) a hub nonrotatably mounted on said shaft;

(2) a terminal link pivotally connected at one end to said closure;

('3) a two-part folding link assembly operably connected between said hub and said terminal link and being characterized by a radial arm rigidwith said hub and by an angular link element which is pivotally connected at one end to said radial arm and at the other end to said terminal link;

(4) said angular link being longer than said radial arm whereby when said link assembly is fully folded during closure-opening winding of said mechanism said angular link engages said hub and extends transversely across said hub and defines a second non-rigid radial arm pivotally connected to said terminal link;

(5) the angularity of said link being such that when said link assembly is folded and said angular link engages and extends across said hub the pivot axes at the opposite ends thereof are disposed in alignment with the axis of rotation of said shaft;

(6) a fixed radial lug on said hub juxtaposed to said second radial arm when said link assembly is fully folded;

(7) coacting means between said lug and said terminal link for retaining said link assembly fully folded during a substantial portion of the winding and unwinding movement of said linkage mechanism;

(8) and stop means between said closure and said terminal link to limit upward swinging of same.

6. In a hopper having an opening for the discharge of lading and a sliding closure for the opening, means for moving the closure comprising:

(a) a rotatable shaft,

(b) radially extending arm means projecting from said shaft,

(c) an angular link element pivotally connected at one end to said arm means and being longer than said arm means;

(d) a terminal link pivotally connected at one end with the opposite end of said angular link element and having its opposite end pivotally connected to said closure;

(e) said angular link element being pivotable into a position wherein same straddles said shaft with the axes of its pivotal connections to said arm means and to said terminal link being in alignment with the axis of rotation of said shaft;

(f) said pivotal axes of said angular link element being in said alignment with the axis of rotation of said shaft at the beginning of the closure closing operation and remaining in said alignment until approximately the half way point of said closure closing operation whereby to provide multiplied mechanical efliciency of the closure closing means during this period.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1963 Dorey 253 3/1963 Dorey 105-282 

1. IN A HOPPER HAVING AN OPENING FOR THE DISCHARGE OF LADING AND A CLOSURE SLIDINGLY MOUNTED FOR CONTROLLING DISCHARGE OF LADING, MEANS FOR MOVING THE CLOSURE COMPRISING: (A) A ROTATABLE SHAFT, (B) RADIALLY EXTENDING ARM MEANS ON SAID SHAFT, (C) A RADIAL LUG ON SAID SHAFT CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED FROM SAID ARM MEANS, (D) A TWO-PART WINDING LINKAGE CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID CLOSURE AND SAID SHAFT, SAID LINKAGE BEING CHARACTERIZED BY: (1) A FIRST LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ARM MEANS AND PIVOTABLE INTO JUXTAPOSITION TO SAID LUG; AND BY (2) A SECOND LINK PIVOTALLY CONNNECTED BETWEEN SAID FIRST LINK AND SAID CLOSURE, SAID SECOND LINK BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LUG IN A MANNER SUCH THAT SAID FIRST LINK IS RETAINED IN JUXTAPOSITION TO SAID LUG FOR A PREDETERMINED PORTION OF THE UNWINDING MOVEMENT OF SAID LINKAGE. 